SALISBURY – Sophomore David Strother scored a game-best 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting to pace a sextet of UNC Pembroke players with double-figure scoring nights as the Braves won their season opener for the third-straight year with a 97-81 victory over Newberry on Friday evening at the PBC/South Atlantic Conference Challenge.
 
The Black & Gold (1-0) improved to 9-2 in season openers under Ben Miller with the triumph – its first over Newberry since the 1963-64 campaign. The Wolves (0-1) have not tasted victory in a season opener since a 107-87 win over Salem International on Nov. 11, 2011.
 

THE BASICS

SCORE: UNC Pembroke 97, Newberry 81 RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 1-0; Newberry 0-1 LOCATION: Salisbury, N.C. (Goodman Gym)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST HALF

The Braves canned six of their first eight shots of the contest, including a pair of 3-pointers, and led 16-6 after a trey from Tyrell Kirk just 3-1/2 minutes into the opening stanza. The Wolves answered with a 7-2 run to pull to within five, 18-13, and traded baskets with the Black & Gold for much of the next five minutes. A fastbreak layup by Akia Pruitt at the 9:53 mark ignited UNCP on a mild 6-0 scoring spurt, but the Braves eventually pushed its lead back to double digits, 48-37, with 3-1/2 minutes left on another 3-pointer from Kirk. A layup by Luke Gibson at the buzzer made it a 50-43 contest heading into the locker rooms.

2ND HALF

Newberry trimmed a seven-point halftime deficit down to just three, 54-51, on a jumper by Luke Gibson just more than 3-1/2 minutes into the second half, but a 3-pointer from James Murray-Boyles at the 15:42 mark ignited the Black & Gold on a 13-2 run that gave it a double-digit lead for good. The Braves led by as many as 18 points, 94-76, after David Strother's 3-pointer with 85 ticks left that capped a 10-2 run.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Sophomore David Strother scored a game-best 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting - the second 20+-point outing of the Lumberton native's career, and the first since turning in a career-best 22 points against Barton on Nov. 21, 2017. + Akia Pruitt registered his 13th career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. He also turned in one block - the 56th time in 62 career games played that he has registered at least one swat. + Jamal Bryant matched a career-high with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while also tallying five rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals.  + Tyrell Kirk turned in 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting - the 14th time in 34 career games that the sophomore has accumulated 10 or more points. + Redshirt freshman Cam Hamilton tallied 10 points and three rebounds in his collegiate debut.

NOTABLES

+ The Braves have now won three-straight season openers, and improved to 9-2 in such contests under head coach Ben Miller. + Friday's victory was UNCP's first over Newberry since the 1963-64 season. The clubs have met just one other time since then - a 60-57 win for the Wolves in the 2000-01 season opener (Nov. 17, 2000). + The 97 points for the Braves were their most in a season opener since a 98-90 win over Lenoir-Rhyne in the 2014-15 lid-lifter. It is the most points in a season-opening regulation game for the Black & Gold since a 98-76 win over St. Andrews to start the 2011-12 campaign. + UNCP posted five blocks on the night, including a pair by newcomer Spencer Levi. It is the most blocks for the Braves since turning in six against Francis Marion on February 21. + The Braves shot 52.9 percent from the field against Newberry - the first time the club has shot 50 percent or better from the field since connecting on 30 of their 60 field goal attempts at Augusta in February. UNCP accomplished that feat just one other time (at Francis Marion) last season.

UP NEXT

UNCP will wrap up its portion of play in the PBC/South Atlantic Conference Challenge on Saturday when it faces host-Catawba (1-0) inside Goodman Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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